On March 3, 1969, a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter (registration VP-FAM) operated by British Antarctic Survey - BAS was involved in an aviation accident near Stonington Island, Antarctica during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft crashed following the failure of an engine. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft crashed on Stonington Island after experiencing a loss of power in one of its engines.
What happened
During a flight near Stonington Island, an aircraft experienced a mechanical malfunction involving the propulsion system. The event began when the aircraft suffered an engine failure while in flight. Following this loss of power, the aircraft was unable to maintain its intended flight path and subsequently crashed on the island.
Despite the impact of the crash, there were no fatalities or injuries reported among those on board. The incident resulted in zero casualties.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary reason for the crash was an engine failure during the flight.
Probable cause
The aircraft crashed following the failure of an engine.